Plug Loads

Plug loads refer to energy used by equipment that is plugged into an outlet. In an office, key plug loads include computer and monitors, printers, and copiers. Plug loads can average approximately 30% of electricity use in office settings, much of which can be attributed to parasitic loads.

Life Cycle Cost Savings

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) aims to quantify the financial impact of a product over its entire life cycle to assist consumers in making decisions that will save them money over the long term.

For most applications, energy-efficient fax machines have the lowest life-cycle cost. For example, FEMP has estimated that a typical federal agency purchasing 100 Energy Star-qualified fax machines could save $2,600 in energy costs over the life of the machines, compared to less efficient units. Additionally, EPA has estimated that 100 Energy Star-qualified fax machines could avoid between 2,200 and 12,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

An efficient product is cost effective when the energy costs saved over the life of the product exceed the additional upfront cost (if any) of the more efficient model. Energy Star considers both upfront costs and lifetime energy cost savings when setting required efficiency levels. Federal purchasers can assume that Energy Star-qualified products are life-cycle cost effective. On its Purchasing & Procurement page, Energy Star offers MS-Excel-based calculators to estimate how much money and energy you can save purchasing ENERGY STAR office equipment products. For EPEAT-registered products, the Green Electronics Council offers a benefits calculator to quantify the environmental and financial benefits compared to standard products.

Guiding Principles

Contributes to meeting The Guiding Principles for High Performance and Sustainable Buildings

Additional Guidance

The FAR was amended in June 2014 to add clause 52.223-13 Acquisition of EPEAT®–Registered Imaging Equipment, which requires the delivery or supply of EPEAT®–registered imaging equipment. Refer to FAR 23.705 for prescribed usage of the clause.